Sound Transit released its ST3 Draft Plan at its March 24 Board Meeting. While the overall plan includes plans for transit in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties, there were some projects which will impact the Kirkland area:

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on I-405 from Lynwood to Burien

An inline bus station at NE 85th and I-405

Business Access Transit (BAT) lanes extending toward Downtown Kirkland from the station on 85th

New parking facilities at Kingsgate

An environmental study to examine HCT options from Bothell to Bellevue via Kirkland

The ST3 Draft Plan does not include funding for construction of High Capacity Transit (HCT) on the Cross Kirkland Corridor.

There is an open comment period from now until June when the elements for the November ballot measure will be finalized. You can send your comments to the Sound Transit Board via the Sound Transit ST3 website or by sending email to the Sound Transit Board or by calling 206-903-7000.

The Kirkland City Council will receive an update and discuss the draft plan at its regular meeting on Tuesday April 5.

To be clear, I am a big fan of the Houghton Community Council. As the City of Kirkland has grown, the HCC has provided a mechanism for providing more granular control over land use issues which affect us here in the Houghton Neighborhoods.

HCC's formation was an essential condition for the citizens of the City of Houghton to approve a merger with the City of Kirkland in 1968. It preserves local control over land use decisions within Houghton to protect the character of the community. HCC has worked very effectively with Kirkland's city council and staff for over forty years. HCC does not vote on matters outside it’s boundaries.

Please find the press release here and application here for the open position on the Houghton Community Council. You can take a look at them below. This is a great opportunity to be involved in your neighborhood and have a voice in community matters.Application Deadline is March 31.Don’t delay, apply today!